[SIR UMAR KHAN DAWAR (0325-2512225)] 1

Forests

Introduction:
• Forests are areas of land covered with trees and shrubs.
• According to international economic and environmental standards, the required ratio of forested area
should be 20-30% of the country’s total area.
• In Pakistan, only 4.8%(approx.) of the total area is forested, which is very low.

Difference between productive and protective forests:

Productive Forests Protective Forests
Ø Are natural forests. Ø Are man grown (planted by people).
Ø Forest has a closed canopy and tree density is Ø Trees are linear and planted usually at a
high. distance.
Ø These forests have great commercial value. Ø Protection forests have little economic value.

Q) Explain the importance of forests to Pakistan?

Or
Explain the importance of forests to the conservation of the environment in Pakistan?
Ø Forests add oxygen to air and thereby check air pollution.
Ø Forests add to the scenic beauty and provide picnic spots for tourists (promotes tourism).
Ø Forests have a cooling/moderating effect on climate.
Ø Trees lower the temperature and increase the amount of rainfall.
Ø Forests protect the soil from erosion by wind and water.
Ø Trees on the foothills regulate water supply and thereby check floods.
Ø Decomposition of leaves helps in humus formation, providing fertility to the soil.
From economic point of view:
Ø Forests provide raw material to various industries (timber and pharmaceutical).
Ø Forests provide fruit.
Ø Forests promote tourism.
Ø Provide employment opportunities in forest department.
Ø Provides fuel wood.
Ø Provides timber for furniture and house building.
Ø Forests provide grazing land for cattle.

Q) Describe the following types of forests.

Alpine:
Found in Northern areas, Swat and Kaghan valley of NWFP between an altitude of 4000m-4500m.
• Trees have stunted growth due to low temperature and less sunlight.
• Roots spread sideways to absorb more nutrition.
• Normally, branches grow upwards to attain more sunlight.
Ø Used as fuel wood only, having limited economic use, as it occurs in rugged mountains + low density
area.

Coniferous:
Found in Northern areas, Abbotabad, Mansehra, Swat (NWFP), Pindi, Murree, Islamabad, (Quetta and Kalat
divisions in Balouchistan) between an altitude of 1000m-4000m.
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• Spruce is found at the highest level, Khail and Deodar at the intermediate level and Chir found at the
lowest level.
• These are evergreen forests that survive in low temperature.
• They are conical in shape.
• Their sloping branches prevent snow accumulation.
• Trees have needle like leaves to check excessive transpiration (water loss).
• Trees are tall and straight.
Ø These are an important source of timber (furniture making), helps in environmental protection, a good
habitat for wildlife, attract tourism and adds to scenic beauty.
Tropical Thorn Forests:
Found in Southern and Western Balochistan below 1000m.
• Trees have a low height.
• Roots spread deep to search for water.
• Forests are dominated by thorny hardwood trees.
• Examples – Jhand and Karil.
Ø Mainly used as firewood.

Sub-tropical Scrub Forests:

Found at hills and foothills of lower Himalayas, Western mountains and Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges between
altitudes of 0m-1000m.
• Usually making evergreen belts with deciduous species.
• Also having broad leafed and
• Tropical thorny species.
• Examples – Juniper, walnut, oak and chir
Ø These forests provide grazing lands, at as water shed protection and supply firewood.
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Riverian/Bela Forests:
Found along river Indus and its tributaries, more commonly occurring in Sindh province.
• These are found in active flood plains.
• Are flooded annually.
• Have linear plantation.
• Having normally high yielding commercial hardwood species.
• Examples – Shishum and Babul.
Ø Used for making furniture, agricultural implements. These forests are also a source of fuel wood.
Irrigated forests:
Found in Changa Manga near Lahore, Wan Bachran in Thal area, Chichawatni in Sahiwal district, and at
Taunsa, Kotri, Gudu and other locations in Sindh and Punjab.
• Linear plantation.
• Planted at a distance.
• Planted in large blocks of the same species.
• Examples – Shoshum, babul and eucalyptus.
Ø Are important sources of timber, firewood, provide shade and keep the environment pleasant.
Mangrove forests:
Expansive forests with plantation and trees of low heights are mostly found near the coasts of the Arabian
Sea in Pakistan and are known as Littoral and Swamp Forests.
Found in coastal areas of Sindh and Indus Delta, and coastal areas of Balochistan (Hub Delta).
• Trees usually small with stunted growth of 3 meters.
• With better water supply/availability, trees rise to 6.8 meters.
• Their roots spread into seawater and are tolerant to salt.
Ø Supply firewood, at times used for timber, animals feed on mangrove leaves, act as breeding ground
for fish, protect coastal areas from storms-act as barriers.

Efforts to grow Mangroves:

A number of schemes for the rehabilitation of mangroves are in the pipeline and will soon be executed in the
Indus Delta. Among them for example:
* Environmental protection and management project.
* Mangrove plantation for rehabilitation of Korangi-Phitti creek system.
* Development of mangrove forests in the Indus Delta.
The Department of Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for the management of mangrove forests in
Pakistan.
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Q) Why are mangroves found in deltaic regions/coastal areas?

• Mangroves need fresh water provided by rivers (river Indus).
• Rivers bring along fresh alluvium, providing rich soil in which mangroves thrive.
• Mangroves can grow in saline conditions as they are tolerant to salt.

Q) Why are fish so plentiful in the mangroves of the Indus Delta?

Fish are plentiful over there because:
• River Indus brings a sufficient quantity of fish food/nutrients.
• Mangroves are good breeding ground for fish and shrimps.
• Mangroves provide shelter to small fish from predators.

Q) Why have mangroves declined in areas in recent years?

• Construction of dams of-stream the rivers has reduced water flow downstream.
• Cutting of mangroves for fodder, firewood and timber.
• Seawater pollution.
• Cutting down of mangroves for construction of roads and buildings.

Deforestation
Q) What are the causes of deforestation in Pakistan?
Ø Large tracts of forests are cleared for growing crops (for growing population) or for mining activities.
Ø Urbanization also leads to deforestation as forest areas are converted into residential areas or
facilities for them.
Ø Forests are also cut down to make roads and motorways. Better and more roads (network) is part of
modern day life. However, it leads to deforestation.
Ø Forests are also cut down to obtain wood, which is used in industries like sport goods, chipboard,
hardboard, safety matches, furniture making etc. Therefore, fulfilling the demands of wood-based
industries also cause deforestation.
Ø Forests are cut down to get fuel wood. As more than 50% heating and cooking requirements in
Pakistan are met by cutting fuel wood every year.
Ø Overgrazing of lands by cattle, goats and sheep also leads to deforestation.

Q) What are the products of forests?

Major Products Minor Products
Ø Timber Ø Resin
Ø Fuel wood Ø Mazri
Ø Ephedra
Ø Fruit

Q) What is meant by linear plantation?

• Linear plantation means trees planted along the roads, canals, and railway lines.
• Plantation is done in a line and at a certain distance.
• These are found all over the country.
• Such plantation is used for scenic beauty, to prevent soil erosion and to protect the environment etc.

Q) What is meant by the following terms?

⇒ Deforestation: means cutting down of tress recklessly without planning.
⇒ Afforestation: the conversion of bare or cultivated land into forest is afforestation (or) planting of trees
where earlier there were not.
⇒ Reafforestation: is the term used for the reforestation/replanting of a forest that has been reduced by
fire or cutting.
⇒ Sustainable forestry:
• It means that forests are utilized in such a way that they remain productive for a long
time.
• This will ensure a pleasant environment and availability of forest products (such as
wood) for a long time in future.
• So, when trees are cut, new saplings should be planted.
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Effects of deforestation:
Q) What are the effects of deforestation?
• Soil erosion: roots of plants and trees hold the soil particles firmly. Cutting of trees leaves the soil
exposed to water and wind, and is eroded.
• With soil erosion, siltation takes place. Siltation is the accumulation of silt, found in a reservoir.
Siltation reduces the storage and power generating capacity of the reservoir.
• Forests are a natural habitat for animals and birds. Deforestation destroys this natural habitat for
wildlife, and results in extinction of birds and animals.
• Forests act as barriers to floods, and regulate water flow. Deforestation results in more floods.
• Forests maintain a balance in the environment by checking pollution. Deforestation results in air
pollution and increase in temperature.
• Forests are a source of employment for the people in forest department and wood based industries.
Thus, deforestation will also effect peoples’ employment prospects.
• Deforestation also affects the economy of individual and a country. As Pakistani wood based products
have a domestic and international market. Cutting down of trees would reduce forest products, which
means that wood based industries will be affected adversely, and will result in decline of foreign
exchange earning.

Steps to control deforestation:

Q) What steps can be taken to solve the problems caused by deforestation?
Ø Supplying irrigation facilities to deforested areas.
Ø Enforcement of regeneration and reafforestation programs in deforested areas.
Ø Reserving land for fuel wood plantation only, so that valuable species of trees could be saved.
Ø Creating awareness among people by government agencies and NGOs about the hazards of
deforestation.
Ø Involving the local people in plantation campaigns.
Ø Supplying natural gas to areas where forests are cut for fuel wood purpose.
Ø Forest management techniques to be employed, such as
o Selective cutting
o Restricting the use of bulldozers and heavy machinery in forests.
o Strict enforcement of forest laws
o Initiating/starting village forestry programs
o Urban forestry programs
Ø Deforestation can also be reduced by hill-terracing (on steep slopes), and contour ploughing (on
gentle slopes).

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Urbanization
Growing crops (residential areas or
facilities)

Roads/motorways/rail Obtain wood used as

way tracks/ airports a raw material for
industries

Mining activities Overgrazing

Fuel wood